Why Book a Gorilla Permit in Advance?

Why Book a Gorilla Permit in Advance?

Discover the benefits of reserving your gorilla permit in advance. In the Virunga region’s rainforests (Bwindi, Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga National Park), gorilla trekking is a popular sport that aims to get participants up close and personal with endangered mountain gorillas for up to an hour. Due to its 19 habituated gorilla families that are accessible to the public and its half of the world’s remaining gorilla population, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the primary park for gorilla trekking. Additionally, the gorilla acclimatization experience is currently conducted there.

With ten habituated gorilla families available for trekking, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is the second most popular national park for gorilla trekking. With just one gorilla family, Mgahinga is also an excellent place to go trekking. You may also combine Mgahinga with a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

 Apart from Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla trekking is also possible in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park. However, there is currently violence in the nation; therefore, it is advisable to stay away from Congo at this time.

Gorillas are critically endangered primates sharing a common DNA with humans. The hike, park entrance, and one hour with the gorillas, armed rangers, and guides are all included in the cost of a gorilla permit. Meals, transportation, and lodging are additional expenses that must be paid for separately.

WHAT’S A GORILLA PERMIT?

A gorilla permit is a legal document that is issued by the relevant governments (Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda; Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda).It is the sole passport that permits entry to the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga, and Volcanoes National Park for visitors who are 12 years of age or older in Uganda and 15 years of age in Rwanda.

 Eight people at most are permitted to hike with the gorillas for an hour during regular trekking, and four individuals during the acclimatization phase. This implies that only a certain quantity of gorilla permits will be printed each day in Rwanda and Uganda. There are twelve habituated gorilla families in Rwanda, and the Volcanoes National Park issues roughly ninety-six gorilla permits daily. There are so many reasons why you need a gorilla trek permit in advance, and these include the following:

 For proper preparation: Early permit booking facilitates appropriate and timely planning for the gorilla trek safari. When you get your gorilla permit in advance, you can be confident that all the services you’ll need for the trek—such as lodging, transportation, food, and any other relevant activities you might wish to partake in—will be reserved. It also allows you plenty of time to mentally and physically be ready for the hike. Make sure you have the necessary items with you, such as rain jackets, hiking boots, garden gloves, cameras, long-sleeve shirts and pants, bug repellent, and additional batteries.

High demand for gorillas: Being one of the most sought-after endangered animals in the world, mountain gorillas are made even more special and in high demand by tourists by the fact that they can only be found in three countries and can only be walked in their natural habitat. Because 75% of the money obtained is utilized to safeguard the gorillas, which have increased in number, gorilla permits are expensive. Gorilla permits cost $1500 per person per night in Rwanda, $800 in Uganda, and $400 in the Congo.

Accommodation: One of the first things to be reserved after obtaining a gorilla permit is lodging, which is a crucial component of gorilla trekking. Three categories are used to classify the accommodations: basic, mid-range, and premium.

 The purpose of the permission is to let you see the gorillas. You must obtain permits in advance in order to be assigned to a gorilla family because different families reside in separate areas (this usually applies to Bwindi, which has four sections; however, it may also be utilized in other national parks). You will need to reserve lodging in or near the sector that has been allotted to you after receiving the permit.

GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS IN RWANDA

In Rwanda, gorilla trekking takes place in the Volcanoes National Park, which is two to three hours from Kigali International Airport. Approximately ten habituated gorilla family groups can be walked year-round in Volcanoes National Park. The Rwanda Development Board is responsible for issuing gorilla licenses in Rwanda. The cost of the permit is listed below for both the dry and rainy seasons.

• Foreign non-residents= $1500
• Residents and citizens of other African countries= $500
• East African citizens= $200

Rwanda’s costly permits have significantly raised the nation’s income, which has aided in the gorillas’ and the national park’s conservation. The growing number of mountain gorillas has sparked discussions about enlarging Volcanoes National Park’s limits.

GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS IN UGANDA

In Uganda, there are two national parks where trekking is permitted: Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The four sectors of Bwindi—Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Buhoma—are home to 19 habituated gorilla families. Sections are taken into account when assigning gorilla families; that is, even though you are often assigned to any gorilla family that is open for trekking as long as you have made a reservation in advance, there is only one habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga that is accessible for hiking.

Access to both national parks is possible by plane or road; they are located in Uganda’s southwest. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues gorilla permits, which can be obtained directly from UWA (though it takes a while) or from regional tour companies that are authorized to conduct business in Uganda. Buying through a tour operator is time- and hassle-effective. In Bwindi, gorilla habituation is similarly conducted; however, instead of spending an hour trekking with the gorillas, four hours are spent with the primates. The following is a list of the prices for a gorilla permit in Uganda:

• Foreign non-residents= $800
• Foreign residents=$700
• East African Citizens=300, 000 UGX
• The gorilla habituation permit is $1500 per person.

Before being granted a gorilla permit, which costs $600 per person, foreign nationals must present their permit or proof of residency.

GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS IN CONGO

With a price per person of about $400, the Democratic Republic of the Congo offers the lowest gorilla permits. Only Virunga National Park or a reputable travel operator may be used to make direct reservations for gorilla permits in the Congo. Sadly, political upheaval in Congo has made it difficult to sell the permits. Additionally, most governments have prohibited their nationals from visiting Congo, leaving only Rwanda and Uganda as viable vacation destinations.

One may be forced to wonder if it is all worth it when considering the cost of the gorilla permits in various locations. The answer is that the money paid on the safari and gorilla trek permits is definitely worthwhile.

HOW TO OBTAIN GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS IN UGANDA AND RWANDA.

For appropriate planning, gorillas should be acquired at least three to six months prior to the trek date. To obtain a gorilla permit in Uganda, an individual must be at least 12 years old, and in Rwanda, they must be at least 15 years old. Additionally, you must ensure that the information you provide regarding your desired travel date matches the information on your passport, including names, dates of birth, and passport numbers. We can assist you in planning a whole gorilla safari, which includes lodging, food, transportation, and other safari activities, in addition to helping you reserve the gorilla permit.

Getting a Gorilla Permit Through an agent: It is simple to reserve gorilla permits through the tour operator of your choice; however, before selecting one, make sure the operator is registered and look through all of the evaluations. If you decide to work with us, the first thing we’ll do is ask you for the dates you’d like, and we’ll see if the permits are available before responding. We will book the permit and begin your trip planning as soon as we have confirmed the dates and received payment. Following your reservation, you will receive a soft copy of your permit.

BEST TIME FOR GORILLA PERMIT BOOKING

It is preferable to reserve gorilla permits three to six months in advance of the anticipated travel date. This is a result of the strong demand and quick sell-out of permits during the dry/peak season, which also happens to be first come, first served.